Split-foot knitting machine and method



June 6, 1939- R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,161,067

SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AN]? METHOD Filed April 8, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-.1.

June 6, 1939. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,161,067

SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NYE/1170135: fiaflzzrflzdwsm; 143792121! 62001 757:

June 6, 1939.

Filed April 8, 1936 MAM/705$ Ts? ATZW June 6, 1939. R. H. LAWSON ET AL SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 NJ Jun:

June 6, 1939. R. H. LAWSON ET AL SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 12 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed April 8, 1936 June 6, 1939.

R. H. LAWSON ET AL SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1956 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 JYl E/YTJ/PS: PfiBERTE [AH $011; JRT/IZIE/IMZJWUE/E .7 f

June 6, 1939- R. H LAWSON ET AL 2,161,067

SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1956 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Mayra/es; EMEEZHLAPKsW/z ART/Jazz 620027215 R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,161,067

SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 6, 1939.

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SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1936 12 Sheets-Sheet l1 FICLZB.

June 6, 1939. R, H, LAWSON ET AL 2,161,067

SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 8, 1956 i2 Sheets-Sheet 12 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES SPLIT-FOOT KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, and Arthur N. Clouticr, Lonsdale, R. L, assignors to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 8, 1936, Serial No 73,325 In Canada April 10, 1935 21 Claims.

This case deals with a new method of knitting split-foot stockings and the machine for practicing this new method.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view showing the front of a knitting machine constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows part of the rear side of the machine and certain of the novel mechanism with which the case is concerned;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing one side of the new machine;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a section taken transversely through the needle cylinder and illustrating some of the parts which operate the jack cams;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the control for operating the reinforcing lever;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the cam control for engaging and disengaging the reinforcing lever with its cam;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the operating means which is associated with one of the jack cams;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through the 25 needle cylinder immediately above the jack controlling cams and illustrating these cams in detail;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the front jack cam assembly;

30 Fig. 10 is a corresponding view of the opposite jack cam assembly;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the cams and controlling means associated therewith for the eyelet closing cam;

35 Fig. 12 is an elevation showing in detail part of the mechanism which controls the eyelet closing cam from the kicker;

Fig. 13 is an elevation showing the parts on the machine which have been illustrated in Fig.

40 12, but as they are seen from the back of the machine;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view illustrating some of the mechanism shown in Figs. 12 and 13 as seen from above;

Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a stocking made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 16 is an elevation showing a new form of instep cam control and parts associated there- 50 With;

Fig. 17 is a plan view illustrating the modification of instep cam shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 illustrates in detail the cam control for this modified instep cam;

55 Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of needles and jacks during knitting the leg of the stocking;

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view showing the pathways of needles and jacks during knitting the high-splice; s

Fig. 21 corresponds to Fig. 20 but shows the reverse reciprocation;

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic view illustrating cam control of jacks upon starting knitting of a heel according to the invention, and shows the 10 pathway of needles and jacks during such portion of the cycle;

Figs. 23 and 2.: illustrate diagrammatically the pathway of needles and jacks during both directions of reciprocation in the heel;

Fig. 25 illustrates diagrammatically the pathway which needles and jacks take throughout the foot;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic view showing operation of needles and jacks, as well as position of 20 cams while knitting the so-called bunion patch;

Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing the pathway of needles and jacks during the knitting of the ring top, ring toe, etc., and

Fig. 28 shows in detail one of the needles and 25 needle controlling jacks. I

Split-foot knitting machines have been extremely complicated in their construction and mode of operation, especially whenever it has been desired to knit on such machines stockings 30 having the suture line spaced from the normal center line of the stocking such as might be determined by an equal distribution of long and short butt needles. The problem of knitting asplit-foot stocking wherein the suture line will not occur at the wales which would normally be knitted by the terminal long and short butt needles has made it necessary to resort to the use of jacks whereby some of the needles in one group might be forced to knit with the needles of the opposite group throughout certain portions of the stocking such as in the high-splice and sole. Good practice according to the present construction of split-foot hosiery calls for knitting the heel with the corner thereof spaced a few needles from the suture line. If both of these advantages are to be incorporated in the same stocking the machine must necessarily have jacks with butts of two different lengths. The split-foot machines which have been capable of producing such a stocking have been very complicated, both as to the multiplicity of parts therein and in the great number of moves necessary for forcing these parts to function in the proper manner and at the proper time. Examples of splitfoot knitting machines according to the prior art, which knit such a stocking are evident in U. S. application Serial Number 439,976, now Patent #2,083,027 and U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563. These cases are referred to for the general construction of a split-foot knitting machine wherein it is possible to control needle jacks having butts of two contrasting lengths to knit a stocking of the type concerned.

The machines according to applications herein made of record and according to the present case are of the type wherein the leg and instep of the stocking are formed from a single yarn, this yarn being knitted preferably at the auxiliary side of the machine. The advantages of knitting a splitfoot stocking in this manner are too well known to require further comment at this time. It is possible by means of varying the number of long and short butt jacks to control the size of highsplice which will be knitted and also to make the suture line along the sole at any desired height. The high-splice may be wider or narrower than the sole portion if desired, and either high-splice or sole may be knitted Without the use of jacks,

which is to feed this extra reinforcing yarn to.

the high-splice and/or toe. 1

The invention is described with reference to a machine having a set-up which is adapted to knit a stocking of the type shown herein in Fig. 15, but it is to be understood that/this is given by way .of illustration only and that the machine is in no way limited to the production of a stocking according to a particular one illustrated, but with slight variations of set-up of jacks and pattern drums for controlling cams, all within the skill of the knitter, many variations of this general class of split-foot stocking may be produced.

' The machine itself and the changes which have been made over the machine of the prior art will be described after which the operation of this machine will be taken relative to making a complete stocking similar to the one shown in Fig. 15. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the machine consists of a frame I, a circular base 2, needle cylinder 3 and associated therewith needles of the latch type and a sinker head 6 in which the usual sinkers operate in conjunction with the needles to form a knitted fabric. Referring to Fig. 28 a typical latch needle N and a needle controlling and selecting jack J are shown. These needles and jacks are slidable within the needle tricks in the cylinder according to the usual practice. A latch ring '5 is hinged to swing about a pivot on the post 6. A main cam set is located in the usual position and is generally designated by numeral I, this cam set being of standard construction and not different from that shown in the cases previously mentioned. This cam block carries the usual narrowing cams and is arranged to be withdrawn from active position by means of a bell crank 8, links 9 and I0, lever II and rod l2" connected to a lever (not shown) which is moved by suitable cams to withdraw this cam block and allow it to return to position at the proper time. One of the knitting cams in this main cam set is arranged to be withdrawn from active positi n during the knitting of certain parts of the stocking, such as when knitting the leg. This cam has an extension in the form of a stem at which is pivoted a short link l3 connected to a bell crank lever l4 which is operated at the proper times by means of the links l5, l6 and I1 and the bell crank levers l8 and 19. The vertically extending link I! attaches at its lower end to a lever 20 which engages certain cams on cam drum 2! fixed to the main cam shaft 22.

This main cam shaft also has drums 23'and 24 rotatable therewith which operate to raise and lower the main cam set 1 and the auxiliary cam set, herein generally indicated by numeral 25, respectively. This vertical movement of the cam assemblies provides for varying the length of stitch, thus fashioning the stocking. The usual yarn feeding fingers cooperate to feed yarn at the main side of the machine and are generally indicated by numeral 26. These fingers are controlled by the usual levers 2'I pivoted in the upper end of an enclosure 28 and which are connected by suitable wires or the like to a series of fingers 29 which bear upon certain cams on a cam drum 30. Cam drum 30 also carries the usual cam for changing the motion of the cylinder from a rotary to a reciprocatory one, and this cam shaft 22 also carries the usual ratchet, sprocket for the pattern chain and a cam drum 3! at the extreme end thereof for actuating the stopping mechanism.

The auxiliary cam block indicated at 25 is also arranged to be withdrawn bodily from the cylinder so that it will be out of the way when transferring; also, the center cam is individually provided with means whereby it may be withdrawn from active position at such times as when knitting the heel and toe. This cam block carries the usual widening picks. This auxiliary side of the machine has been provided with a single yarn guide indicated at 32 and which is controlled by means of a lever 33 which lever also functions to withdraw the center sinker cam on this side of the machine at certain predetermined times and to allow it to remain in active position at other specified times. The machine is provided with an instep cam assembly 34, the lower instep cam of which is operated to function whenever the machine is operated in a reciprocatory manner and is withdrawn from an active position at other times. The top instep cam is separately moved to and from position by means of a lever 35, link 36 and other connections to the pattern controlling members on the machine all of which are described and claimed in U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563.

The needles which are used in the machine illustrated are preferably of the latch type but may be spring beard needles in which case pressers will be used, the invention depending in no way upon the type of needles used. The entire assembly of needles is divided into two groups, one group having long butts and the other group having short butts. These groups preferably contain equal numbers of needles but it is not necessary to divide the long and short butt needles equally since it might be advisable in some circumstances to provide more or less of either kind of needles. The long butt needles are used for knitting the instep, as is the usual practice, while the short butts function in the heel, toe and sole portions during reciprocatory work except in certain instances hereinafter to be described. A few of the short butt needles adjacent the long butt needles are provided with jacks, an for purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that 12 short butt needles at either extremity of the short butt group are provided with these jacks and that 9 of the jacks have long butts and that 3 of the jacks have shortbutts in each group. The jacks having long butts are those under the short butt needles which are closest to the long butt needles.

This particular set-up of jacks and needles is merely given as an example of one set-up which is commonly used in making such stockings as we have illustrated, but the invention is in no way limited to any particular number of jacks used nor to any particular division of these jacks into long and short butts. This all depends upon the number of needles which it is desired to use for knitting the high-splice and for knitting the sole, also how far it is desired to space the corner of the heel from the suture line formed between split portions of the fabric. The same set-up of jacks and needles has been used in this case which was taken as an example in U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563 so that the two cases may be compared and that the simplicity of this machine will be evident when it is considered that both machines may produce the same stocking.

Referring to Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 10 the cams which function to control jacks and parts of the mechanism which operate these cams have been shown. These cams are also illustrated in the diagrammatic views l9 through 21. At approximately the front and back of the machine we have provided brackets 31 and 38 which have been attached to the circular base and to these brackets are adjustably fixed cams which function to control below these cams on the reverse stroke.

jacks in a particular manner according to selections, so-called, by means of two movable jack cams. Cams 39 and 39' are attached to said brackets by means of suitable screws or other attaching means. As shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 19 these cams are triangular in shape and are of a height suflicient to raise the jacks to a level at which they will contact cams 43 and 44 and be lowered thereby. or will also be raised to a height to engage cam 46. Two cams 40 and 40' are adjustably attached to the brackets by means of screws 4|, 42 passing through slots in the stems of said cams. These cams lower jacks which have been raised by cams 43, 44 so that they will pass The cams 43 and 44 are'attached to said brackets in an inclined position by means of suitable connecting means. These cams are illustrated in profile in Fig. 19 and are inclined throughout a portion of their extent but have short horizontal extensions at the lower end thereof. These cams will lower jacks which have been raised by cams 39 and 39' or which have been traveling in a pathway wherein they were raised by either of the movable jack cams. In the event that movable cam 45, known as the eyelet closing cam is in position to engage jack butts, those jacks which are engaged will be raised up beyond the lower edges of the cams 43 and 44 so that they will be elevated along the inner or upper surfaces of said cams. I

If the jack butts pass through the machine and are not engaged by any of the movable jack cams, these jacks will merely pass up over cams 39 and 39 and under cams 43 and 44 in which pathway the jacks will have no effect upon needles. For certain purposes which will be described later with reference to the operation of the machine in knitting a complete stocking, the eyelet closing cam 45 is fixed to the end of a lever 46 which is pivoted at 41 to the circular base of the machine and is controlled by two entirely separate means for engaging long butt jacks at certain times and both long and short butt jacks at other times. while being held in idle position to engage no jacks when knitting certain parts of a stocking. Another cam, herein referred to as the doublestep jack cam 48, is attached to a stem 49 which is radially slidab'e in a guide or bracket 50. This guide 50 is clamped under the cam plate by means of bolts 5| and 52 which pass through slots in said guide or an extension thereof. These slots provide for a certain amount of adjustment whereby the cam may be positioned properly relative to the needle cylinder. The guide or bracket has an extension 53 to the outer end of which is pivoted at 54 a bell crank lever 55 having a cam slot 56 arranged to engage a pin 51 which is threaded within the stem 49. A link 56 is pivoted to the opposite end of said bell crank lever at 59 and according to certain cams upon cam drum 3|, this bel crank lever will be swung and is connected to an upright arm 60 of a bell crank lever pivoted to a bracket 61 fixed to the circular base of the machine. This bell crank lever and bracket are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Another arm of said bell crank lever extends horizontally at 62 and a rod 63 is attached to the end of arm 62 and by means of an adjustable connection 64, is pivoted to one end of a lever 65 which rotates about pin 66 in a bracket 61 which is attached permanently to the side of the machine frame. A spring 68 is attached at its lower end to an adjustable collar 69 on the rod 63 and is also fixed at its upper end to a pin projecting from the frame of the machine. This spring is under suflicient tension to maintain the rod 63, lever 65, bell crank 59 and cam 48 in a position in which said cam will not engage any jack butts except when the toe 10 of lever 65 rides up on one of cams I I, 12 or 13 all projecting from the outer rim of cam drum 3|. Certain of these cams are low enough to project cam 48 to a position in which it will engage long butts only, while others may project said cam into a position wherein it will engage a'l jack butts; the particular disposition of cams for the functioning of jack cam 48 for knitting a stocking such as has been illustcetcd will be described later.

The eyelet closing cam 45 is fixed to the end of lever 48 which was pivoted to swing about a pin 41 all as described in preceding paragraphs. A spring 14 is connected at 15 to the outer end of lever 46 and at its opposite extremity, is attached to a pin 16 projecting from the circular base. This spring is under tension and except when one of the controlling means presses cam 45 into engagement with the cylinder wherein it will contact and raise all jack butts, or to a posit on in which it will act upon long butts only, this spring will serve to move said eyelet closing cam to an inactive position. A short lever has been pivoted on the circular base to swing about a pivot TI, one end 18 of this lever extending inwardly to engage lever 46, and the other end 19 projecting outwardly as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 8. A bracket is attached by suitable screws to the circular base and serves two purposes, first, that of guiding the outer end 19 of the last mentioned lever by means of the projection 8| which extends over said lever, and secondly, has a slot 82 which provides for restraining and guiding the upper end 83 of a two part controlling member for cam 45. The

'lower portion 84 of this two-part member is forked at its lower end 95 to straddle the shaft 22, Figs. 1 and 11, and is adjustably connected by means of screws 86, 81, threaded into one part, but passing through slots in the other whereby a suitable adjustment may be obtained. -A spring 88 attaches at the lower end of the part 84 and also to some fixed portion of the frame. This spring will urge the two-part member into a lowermost position except when a follower 84' fixed at about the mid-portion of element 94 engages upon cams 89 or 89 on drum 24, better shown in Fig. 11, and having surfaces disposed at two different heights. A collar 99 is fixed to the shaft 22 so that the element 84 will be held in a position such as shown in Fig. 1 wherein follower 84' can not fail to engage its cams.

The upper end of element 83 has been formed in such a manner that it will present one of three different steps, 9|, 92 or 93, against the outer end I9 of the lever which pushes cam 45 into position against the resistance of spring 14. The step 9|, when a cam 89 or 89' of maximum height engages under follower 84', will push eyelet closing cam 45 inwardly to full extent; in this position it engages jack butts of all lengths. .Step 92 provides for pushing the eyelet closing cam inwardly to engage long butt jacks, but to miss short butt jacks; at this time follower 84' must be riding upon a low part of cam 89. At all other times when the follower does not engage any cams on drum 24, the step 93 will allow lever 46 and its cam 45 to move to an inactive position. This constitutes one complete mechanism for controlling the eyelet closing cam but is to be used only during certain phases of knitting a stocking, and another means complete in itself will function at other times to control said eyelet closing cam. This is due to the fact that it is not desirable, although it has been found necessary in previous machines, to provide an extra move for the main cam shaft on which drum 24 is mounted.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the eyelet closing cam may be controlled by means of a two-part member which is comprised of a portion 94 pivoted to lever 46 at 95 and a portion 96 which forms an adjustable extension of 94. One of the members is slotted for the reception of screws which are threaded within. the other, and this provides for the necessary adjustment as to the length of this two-part controlling element. Part 96 is slotted at 91 and this end of the bar is maintained in proper position on an extension of the circular base by means of a shoulder screw 98. The bar is free to move lengthwise since the slot 91 is a working fit upon a shoulder screw 98. A bracket 99 is attached by means of screws I99 to the circular base extension and has an angular projection I9I which extends behind the end of bar 96 to limit the movement thereof in a direction towards the right of Fig. 4.

The end of bar 96 has been beveled off as shown at I92, and at certain times, is engaged by a corresponding beveled end I93 of a vertically disposed lever I94. This lever I94 is pivoted at I95 to a fixed portion upon the frame of the machine and a lower part of said lever carries a shouldered screw I96 which engages within an elongated slot I91 in a link I98. This link I98 is pivoted at I99 to one arm of the kicker II9, the purpose and function of which is well known in such machines and will not be described in detail in this application. This kicker is fixed to an extending end of the quadrant shaft III which is oscillated throughout a limited angular extent during operation of the machine. An adjustable stop II2 is fastened by a screw H3 to limit the extent of said slot I91 in link I98 and when the kicker is oscillated towards the right (Figs. 3 and 12) or in a clockwise direction, said link will be moved to the right and stop II2 engaging with screw I96 in the end of lever I 94 will move that lever against the tension of spring H4 throughout a very small angle. This movement of the lever will be sufiicient to move the beveled end I93 at the upper end thereof past the corresponding beveled end of bar 96. During portions of the stocking which are knit while the drum 3| upon the main cam shaft is in a position wherein the toe 19 of lever 65 is riding upon the strip H5 or any one of the cams II-I3, this lever I94 will be continuously swung back and forth by means of kicker II9, link I98 and spring The movement of said lever I94 as above mentioned is an idle one since the eyelet closing'cam is held in an operative position during knitting corresponding portions of the stocking by means of the control from cam drum 24. This continuous movement of said lever goes on throughout the knitting of the high-splice, heel, and the sole and instep or foot portion up to the start of the so-called bunion patch or stepped toe, and it is at this time that the toe 19 on lever 65 will fall offcam 13. It is desirable and in fact essential that the eyelet closing cam be moved in to prevent the formation of a float at the beginning of this bunion patch, however, there has been great difliculty and inconvenience in providing an extra move of the main cam shaft at this particular time so that the mecha-' nism from drum 24 is not available for working said eyelet closing cam at this instant.

An angular attachment I I6 has been secured to lever I94 and this angular part has an in wardly extending finger I", see Figs. 2, 3, 12, 13, and 14. The lever 65 has an extending portion I I8 at the end thereof aligned in a vertical plane with said finger I I I. As long as the toe 19 of lever 65 is riding upon cams 1II3 or the strip II5 the extension I I8 will not be in a position high enough to obstruct the to and fro movement of finger II! with lever I94. but just as soon as said toe I9 falls off cam I3, the end of lever 65 will raise so that II8 will be in proper position to engage finger II! as the lower end of lever I94 is moved towards the right (Fig. 3) and thereafter, any movement of link I 98 will not affect lever I94 which remains stationary until the toe I9 again rides up on one of the cams mentioned. It is on this last swing of lever I 94 prior to its being held stationary that the beveled end I93 thereof will engage the corresponding end I92 of the two-part element to project eyelet closing cam 45 inwardly to a position in which it will engage the long butt jacks. This movement of said cam will be for the purpose of preventing a float at the beginning of the bunion patch. The last movement of the kicker I I9 which moved the main cam shaft and pattern drum 3| so that cam I3 moves out from under follower 19 also moves the upper end of lever I94 to the right or to a position such as shown in Fig. 4. This movement of the main cam shaft allowed the double step cam and also the eyelet closing cam to move to inactive position incidental to discontinuing the low sole and entering the bunion patch. The next movement of said kicker toward the right, Fig. 12, will move the upper beveled end I03 of lever I04 past the corresponding beveled end I02 of bar 96 thus moving the eyelet closing cam inwardly at just the proper time to raise one group of butts and their cooperating short butt needles to take yarn at the auxiliary side to prevent formation of a float. It is only necessary to function upon one group of butts since there will be no tendency for a float to form at the opposite side. As lever I04 moves to project said eyelet closing cam inwardly for this brief interval of time, extension I I9 will move up to engage finger II1, Figs. 12, 13 and 14, thereby latching said lever in an inactive position until such time as follower 10 shall again be engaged by cam strip H5.

It is frequently desirable to feed a third rein forcing thread to a portion of the high-splice, heel or toe. As shown in Fig. 15, the high-splice may be reinforced throughout a narrow strip and the toe may be reinforced throughout a strip of corresponding width. It is also possible by means of the mechanism shown to carry the reinforcing of the high-splice down into the heel or to make what is commonly termed an Arrow reinforcement in the toe, see the patent to Mettler, 1,722,- 639. In this latter case when widening of the toe is commenced, the third reinforcing yarn is thrown into feeding position and a widening strip of fabric is produced which includes three" threads, at any desired time the mechanism for moving said third thread feeding lever into and from feeding position once every course may be brought into play whereupon the reinforcing in portion of said reinforcement in a stocking toe.

Lever I22 for controlling the reinforcing yarn guide (not shown), has pivoted at I23, Figs. 3 and 4, a depending link I24 which also connects at its lower end I25 to another lever I26 which is pivoted at about its mid-point on a pin I21 passing through the upper end of a post I28 projecting upwardly from a base portion I29. This base is connected by suitable bolts or screws to a circular base of the machine. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, a link I30 depends from the outer end of lever I26 to pass downwardly through an opening in the frame to connect at I3I to an arm I32. This arm I32 is fixed to a shaft I33 which is both rotatable and slidable within bearings I34 and I35 on bracket I36. This arm also carries a toe portion I31 which acts as a cam follower whenever the reinforcing guide is to be used.

A disc I38 permanently attached to the I04 gear shaft" I39 has adjustably connected at the outer rim thereof cams which serve to; operate upon the toe I31 of lever I32 duringreinforcing. Since the I04 gear shaft makes one complete revolution for every reciprocation of the needle cylinder, two depressions are provided in these cams on disc I38 so that the reinforcing yarn guide will drop into position and be raised therefrom once during each reciprocatory stroke of knitting. Each of these cams is comprised of two parts I40 and HI which overlap at a certain portion I42, this overlapping being essential for the purpose of adjustment of the said cams about the periphery of the disc I38. As these cams are extended to take up a larger angular portion of the complete circumference of the disc, the depressions between the two opposed cams, that is, the complete cam comprising I40 and HI and that opposite generally designated at I43 will close up the gap or depression between the cams into which follower I31 falls at the reinforcing movement of the guide. By means of this adjustment panels of varying widths may be reinforced in any of the portions of the stocking'knitted by reciprocatory work. While it has not been shown in detail, the cam I43 is formed in two parts to be adjustable inthe exact manner illustrated with reference to the cam comprising parts I40 and HI.

Whenever the shaft I33 to which lever I32 Is attached is moved towards the right into the position shown in Fig. 2, follower I31 will bear upon cams I40, I4I, etc., so that the yarn guide for the reinforcing yarn will be moved in and out once during each reciprocation.

The lever I22 has the usual wires depending therefrom and attaching to a. finger (not shown) which bears upon certain cams on the main cam drum. This is all clearly shown in U. S. Patent 933,443 and will not be illustrated or described herein. By means of this control from the main cam drum the yarn guide carrying the third reinforcing yarn will be held upwardly out of feeding position at all times except when it is desired to put this third reinforcement into the stocking. At such times lever I 32 and follower I31 will be maintained upwardly away from cams I40, etc. At the beginning of the high-splice if it is desired to reinforce therein with a third thread, the control from the main cam drum which holds this reinforcing yarn guide out of action will allow said guide to drop into feeding position whereupon cams I40, MI and I43 will control said yarn guide to insert the third reinforcing thread throughout a predetermined width of the high-splice. If desired this third reinforcement may be carried down into the heel.

For the production of the so-called Arrow" toe a cam 2I has been applied to drum- 2I and Whenever the toe I2I of lever H9 falls off said cam 2|, the spindle I33 and elements I32, I31, etc. will be moved bodily to the left, Fig. 2, so that the cams I40, MI and I43 will have no effect upon the reinforcing yarn guide. This movement takes place at the start of widening in the toe as a general rule, although the reinforcement may be started at other places, and at this time, it will be necessary for the control for said yarn guide on the main cam drum to release that guide for action. The third reinforcing thread will be continuously fed to the toe and will be widened therewith until the toe of lever I I9 again rides up on cam 2| to move elements I32 and I31 back into alignment with the reinforcing cams. It is evident that the reinforcing will then continue in a width equivalent to that appearing throughout the high-splice and/or heel. By means of such control as we have described herein a strip of predetermined width can be reinforced with an extra reinforcing thread, or the reinforcement may be continuously fed to a segment of needles to appear throughout the portion of the fabric being knitted.

This axial movement of shaft I33 is brought about by the movement of lever II9 as it is controlled by the cam 2| on drum 2|. The free end of lever H9 is provided with a stud I44 through a hole in which rod I45 passes. A spring I 46 is attached at its upper end to a fixed part of the machine and at its lower end to lever II9; this spring always tending to draw lever II9 upwardly to swing bell crank lever I41 clockwise about its pivot I48. This bell crank is provided at the upper end of its vertically directed arm with an extension I49 to which a link I 50 attaches at II, said link being slotted for a short distance at I52 and being connected by means of a screw I53 to a lever I54. This lever I54 is attached to the frame of the machine at I55 and is bent forwardly at its upper end at I56 (Fig. 5) The lever is slotted to engage a screw I51 since said lever swings about a pivot at its lower end and the shaft has a movement in a straight line only. The extension I69 at the upper end of bell crank lever I61 projects through to the opposite side of said lever in the form of a cam engaging pin I58. As shown in Fig. 6, this pin either bears against the outer surface of a collar I59 formed on the hub I60, or will pass through the opening I6I in said collar to be guided within the groove I62. When in the outer position, Fig. 6, the spindle I33 and lever I32 are in such a position .that said lever is in alignment with the cams which act upon it. but at such times as pin I58 passes through the opening I6I to be guided within groove I62, the parts before mentioned will be in a position in which they do not engage cams to move the reinforcing yarn lever actively.

The rod I65 has two collars I63 and I66 adjustably attached thereto, one collar being above stud I44 while the other is positioned below said stud and also beneath a spring I65 which is under compression between the collar and stud. Whenever lever I I9 is moved downwardly for the purpose of swinging bell crank lever I61 in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 2, spring I65 will be compressed and the bell crank lever will not move in a direction to push spindle I33 to the left, until pin I58 engages with opening H to allow it to enter the groove I62. It can be seen that this provides for an accurate movement of follower I31 to and from cams I40, MI, etc. without providing a cam on drum 2| which will move lever I20 at the precise instant. A hub I60 upon which collar I59 and groove I62 are formed is adjustable upon shaft I39 so that the opening I6I may be rotated around to just the right position to allow pin I58 to change its position from one side of collar I59 to the other at the proper time. When reverse movement is desired the toe I2I of lever II9 will run off cam 2I' and there would be a tendency for spring I46 under considerable tension to draw the free end of lever II 9 upwardly. This will take place only when the opening I6I rotates to a position opposite pin I56 so that said pin may be passed through from one side to the other.

A hub I66 projects from the frame of the machine and provides a bearing for the extension I39 of the I04 gear shaft. This hub forms a suitable mounting for a bracket arm which projects downwardly at I61, Figs. 1 and 11, and outwardly at I61, Figs. 1 and 6, to receive the screw I68 upon which lever I41 swings. This bracket has a horizontally extending portion I68 which attaches to said hub by means of a screw I69 at the end and another screw I which projects outwardly to form a means for attaching the upper end of spring I66.

The usual control for the instep cams has been shown in places where the same is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, and this control has been described and claimed in U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563. The lower instep cam is directly operated from the lever which shifts the clutch upon changing from rotary to reciprocatory motion and vice versa; however, it is sometimes desirable that an independent control for this instep cam might be provided so that it may be moved at any desired time regardless of the position of the clutch shifting mechanism. In Figs. 16, 17 and 18 there has been shown a modification in which instep cams are controlled from the main cam shaft. Referring to these figures the lower instep cam III is illustrated as being connected to and'movable with the upper instep cam "2., This is not an essential feature of the invention since the two cams may be controlled separately, in which case the controlling device herein shown will be used for the lower cam only. These cams are attached to a vertically extending connecting element I13 which is also slidable in a bracket I14 attached at its base I to the cam plate I16. A cap I11 attaches to the vertically extending portion I13 at the back thereof and serves to maintain this element in its slot in said bracket and a screw is threaded into this plate and element I13 by means of which screw the cam assembly is moved upwardly or downwardly.

During the fashioning in various parts of the stocking it is essential to move cam plate I16 up and down by means of the usual fashioning cams. Any of the usual direct connections from these cams down to a pattern drum such as the drum I19 on main cam shaft 22, would make it necessary that the cams would be moved up and down whenever the plate I16 was moved for purposes of fashioning. This movement of the cams would interfere with proper needle action during knitting and it is for this reason that the modified control herein shown has been developed.

A lever IBI has been pivoted at I82 and has a toe portion I 83 which bears upon the surface of cam drum I19 at all times except when said instep cams are to be in use, and then bears upon cams I84 and I85 which are at the proper location on said cam drum to bring the instep cams into action whenever needed. A spring I86 maintains the toe of the lever in contact with the drum or the cams as the case may be. A vertically disposed rod I81 is attached by means of an adjustable connection I88 at its lower end to lever I6I and at its upper end to a bell crank lever I99 pivoted at I90 to a downwardly extending boss I9I on plate I16. This bell crank lever has an arm I92 which extends upwardly and is flared out at its upper end so that an angular slot I93 may be cut therein. This slot has a portion I96 which is formed on a radius taken with the pivot point I90 as a center so' that when the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 16, at which time the fashioning movement of plate I16 occurs, the inicidental movement of said bell crank lever will not bring about any movement of the instep cams. The bell crank lever will swing about its pivot as the plate I16 is moved up or down but at this time the screw I18 will remain in circumferential slot I94 so that the movement will be ineffective as far as the instep cams are concerned. The cams will be moved, however, at such times as the bell crank lever is swung throughout a greater angle so that pin I18 will pass upwardly or downwardly through slot I93. It may thus be seen that the instep cams will be controlled to change position at any deammo? 7 sired time according to cams upon cam drum I19 or other suitable cams or the like, but that no movement of the instep cams will result from the up and down motion which must be imparted to the cam plate and all of the other elements which are necessarily attached thereto. A cam I95 having a stem I96 slida 1e in an' extension I91 connected to bracket I14 i mfived in against the cylinder and outwardly at certain desired times by means of a forked bell crank lever I99, link 20!! and other mechanism not herein shown since these parts form no essential portion of the invention and are merely shown herein since they are a part of the other mechanism with which we are concerned.

The operation of the machine will now be described, taking for example the complete knitting of the stocking similar tothat shown in Fig. 15. This stocking is comprised of a top 2M which is knitted upon the machine but which may be a ribbed top such as is produced in a rib machine and then transferred to the needles of this machine whereupon knitting continues throughout the remainder of the stocking. If a ribbed top is transferred to the needles of the split-foot machine a few courses may be knitted as a ring top. This ring top is not necessary in the stocking illustrated and may be dispensed with in which case the leg portion of the stocking may be knitted directly to the welt or top. After a welt and/or ring top have been knitted, the leg yarn, preferably silk but not necessarily of that material, is thrown in to replace the welt or ring top yarn and the knitting continues throughout the leg 203 until the top of the high-splice is reached. At this point the split portion of the stocking is commenced whereupon the machine is reciprocated to and fro, the high-splice 204 being knitted at the main side of the machine while the instep 205 continues at the auxiliary side being knitted of the same yarn which was fed throughout the leg portion. At the proper time the instep needles are thrown out of action and the heel 206 is knitted at the main side of the machine, the corner of this heel 201 being spaced a few needles away from the suture line 208. After completion of the heel the idle needles are thrown back into action again and knitting continues throughout the foot of the stocking. The instep yarn continues throughout the top of the foot and the sole 209 is knitted at the main side. A few courses before the termination of the foot, the sole which was being knitted on less than one-half the full complement of needles as was the high-splice, is changed so that all of the short butt needles knit in the sole and long butt needles only knit in the top of the foot. This produces the so-called stepped toe or bunion patch 2H). A ring toe 2 is knitted by rotary knitting at the main feed, and thereafter, the toe M2 is knitted on all of the short butt needles in the usual manner. As has been shown in the stocking which is herein illustrated, a reinforcement may be knitted at the back of the high-splice and may continue down into the heel if desired. The

toe may also be reinforced, preferably at the top thereof as shown in certain modified forms of the stocking illustrated in U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563.

Referring to Figs. 19 through 27 the operation of cams and the path of the needles and jacks will be described throughout these various parts of the stocking shown. The ring top and ring toe are knit of the same yarn, at the same side of the machine and with the same disposition of the cams so that the illustration (if-filming its active position. Knitting is rotary and the entire group of needles passes through the main cam block, taking yarn at the main feed and passing under the auxiliary stitch cams but not taking any yarn nor knitting thereat. The jacks do not enter into play in any active manner during this knitting but merely pass through the machine in an idle pathway wherein they are raised up by cam 39, then pass under cams 43 and 44, then up cam 39' and continue on at that level until they are lowered at MS being pushed down by the cooperating needles which are drawing stitches at that point.

In Fig. 19 knitting throughout the leg portion of the stocking is shown. 'Il'here is one movement of the eyelet closing cam 45 on the last rotation of knitting in the ring top, if a ring top is knitted, for the purpose of raising one group of jacks, more specifically the group of jacks which are under the short butt needles adjacent the first long butt needles which will take the leg yarn at the auxiliary side. This eyelet closing cam is projected inwardly to raise these jacks so that their corresponding needles will be raised up high enough to take the auxiliary yarn before the leading long butt needles take the same. This small group of needles would have the ring top yarn which they took at the main side in their hooks when taking the leg yarn so that there will be an overlapping of the two thus preventing an opening or eyelet hole at this point in the stocking. The instep cam 2| 4 is still out of active position and after the last needle has taken the ring top yarn, knitting cam 2i6 will be withdrawn so that the needles will not clear their latches except at the auxiliary side. Cam 2|! is projected inwardly to raise all the needles above knitting cam 2! attheir auxiliary side whereupon their latches will be cleared, theywill pass down under cam M3 to take the auxiliary yarn and will knit under cam 2|9. As cam 2 is projected inwardly it automatically raises the cam 220 in a manner which is well known to those skilled in the art. The operation of jacks is exactly the same in the knitting of the leg after eyelet closing cam 45 has been moved inwardly to engage the single group of jacks as mentioned. It only remains in long enough to 'raise those jacks and their corresponding needles on one revolution. Cam 2 is projected inwardly some time before the leading long butt needle which is to knit at the auxiliary side approaches it but this cam will ride up on the short butts of needles which are passing until the first long butt needle is reached whereupon the cam will move inwardly against the needle cylinder and will raise all needles from that point on. The eyelet closing cam may be moved inwardly to raise both long and short butt jacks, but preferably I is only pushed half way in since a few needles are all upon which it is necessary to knit both'yarns for purposes of preventing an eyelet.

When the high-splice 204 is reached the necessary movements of the cam shaft and other parts change the motion of the machine from a rotary to a reciprocatory one. If an equal number of needles were to knit in the instep and in the high-splice, or if all long butt needles were to knit in the instep and all short butt needles in r the high-splice, it would not be necessary to use which was being fed throughout the leg, this instep being knitted upon all' the long buitt needles and a few short butt needles, for illustration nine needles, on each side of the terminal long butt needles. These nine needles will have a corresponding number of long butt jacks thereunder which serve to make them function in the group of long butt needles. Just prior to entering the high-splice, that is, on the last rotation in the leg, the double stepped cam 48 is projected inwardly by means of cam H a sufilcient distance to engage long butt jacks. The double stepped cam will remain in just long enough to raise one group of long butt jacks and their needles and will then be retracted. On the first stroke of reciprocation the eyelet closing cam will be moved in half way by means of one of the cams on cam drum 2%. This movement of the eyelet closing cam is initially for the purpose of raising the opposite group of long butt jacks so that their needles will knit with the instep needles on the first reciprocation in the high splice. The instep cam 2M was brought into action upon the change-over from rotary to reciprocatory knitting and served to raise those long butt needles which would normally knit the instep anyway.

The knitting cam M6 at the main side of the machine is brought into action and cam 2!! is withdrawn allowing the cam 220 which is provided for swinging about a horizontal axis at its upper end and being pressed downwardly by a spring all in a manner known and employed in split-foot machines of previous construction. It is to be understood that the eyelet closing cam will remain at its active position for engaging long butt jacks during knitting of the high-splice.

Figs. 20 and 21 show the pathway of needles and long butt jacks in the high-splice during clockwise and counter-clockwise movements respectively. The short butt needles which are knitting the high-splice follow the pathway 22! and pass through the auxiliary cam block under cams 2I9, 2|8, over auxiliary raise cam 222, up over raise cam 223 passing by cam 220 which approaches the needle cylinder near enough to engage long butt needles only. These short butt needles then pass through the main cam block, riding up knitting cam 226, under center cam 225, taking yarn at that feed and then knitting under cam 2H5. The needles are then raised to a normal level on raise cam 226. In Fig. 21 these short butt needles pass through a similar pathway taking yarn at the main feed and knitting under the opposite stitch cam 224. The stitches which are drawn at the main feed remain on the needles and tend to be drawn again at the auxiliary side of the machine but are prevented from being elongated at that auxiliary side of the machine by a peculiar construction of sinkers (not shown) and auxiliary raise cam 222, these novel elements being completely disclosed and claimed in U. S. application Ser. No. 36,563. It is not necessary to use such sinkers and raise cam in this case since other sinkers and cams may be employed with a degree of success, but for the most satisfactory performance these are to be used.

The long butt needles take yarn and knit at the auxiliary side of the machine forming the instep of the stocking and along with these long butt needles the nine needles on either side thereof which have long butt jacks cooperating therewith also draw yarn at the auxiliary side and function in the instep. These long butt needles pass through in pathway 221, Fig. 20, passing under auxiliary center cam 2 l3 to take yarn and knit under stitch cam 2l8. The short butt needles which have long butt jacks will be approaching the auxiliary cam set in the same pathway 22l in which the other short butt needles are approaching, but if they pass under stitch cam M9, the jacks will pass up eyelet closing cam 45 in the pathway 228 and will raise the needles up to a yarn taking positionin the path 229 whereupon said needles knit with the long butt needles at cam 2l8. After knitting under cam M8 the long butt needls will pass up over a portion of cams 222 and 223 to ride up cam 220 so that they will pass by the main cam set at an elevated and inactive level. Those short butt needles which had long butt jacks and knitted under cam 2! will be raised to this high level as their jacks pass up cam 43. The Jacks then pass down under cam fill so that they will be at a level to engage under cam 43 on the return stroke.

On the counter-clockwise reciprocation, Fig. 21, the long butt needles knit under cam 2l9 then pass up raise cam 226 and instep cam 2 to be raised above the main cam set. The short butt needles having long butt jacks are caused to knit under this same cam 2I9 as their jacks pass down under cam 43 up cam l5,'then raise their needles to an inactive level along with other long butt needles as they pass up the inside of jack cam 46. These jacks are then lowered by cam 40' just as they were by cam 40 when they passed through in the opposite direction. It has not been shown in Figs. 20 and 21, that the short butt jacks would be passing through and riding up over cams 39, 39 exactly as they do in Fig. 19. This is an idle movement and the pathway is not shown in these figures for purposes of clearness.

The heel is made upon a few less needles than the high-splice, and in this particular description we have taken for example three needles on either side which have short butt jacks thereunder to cast them up into the instep while the heel is being formed; it is not necessary that we should take three needles as any suitable number may be provided with short butt jacks depending upon the size of heel which it is desired to knit or how far the corner of the heel is to be spaced from the suture line. In Fig. 22 the position of cams and pathway of needles and jacks has been illustrated just preparatory to entering the heel. At this time the double stepped cam is projected inwardly for the purpose of raising one set of short butt jacks which were traveling in the pathway 2l5, and incidentally other long butt jacks which were at a higher elevation so that the short butt needles above these jacks will pass through the main cam block but will not be depressed by knitting cam 224 and will pass upwardly in a path 230 to join the group of long butt needles which are knitting at the auxiliary side. These three short butt needles will take yarn at the auxiliary side before being raised up over cam 2M whereupon they will remain at this inactive level during the knitting of the heel. On this movement eyelet closing cam 45 was also pushed in to its full extent so that it will raise three of the short butt needles on the opposite side to take the instep yarn at the auxiliary feed whereupon their jacks would ride up cam 44 to elevate 

